Die-head.



PATENTED JULY 5, 1904.

W. J. SMITH.

DIE HEAD.

urmonmn FILED n11. 20, 1900.

no MODEL. 2. SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 764,386. PATENTED JULY 5, 190.4. W. J. SMITH.

DIE HEAD.

APPLIOATIOH nun In. no. 1000. no menu. a snnmss11nm a.

No. 764,386. PATBNTED JULY 5, 1904.

' W. J. SMITH.

DIE HEAD.

I nrmouxou rmm 11411.20, 1900. N0 MODEL. 7 a SHEETS-SEEM a.

anueul'oz UNITED STATES Patented July 5, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

GEOMETRIC DRILL COMPANY, OF

PORATION OF DELAYVARE.

DlE-HEAD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 764,386, dated July 5, 1904. Application filed March 20, 1900. Serial No. 9, (N mOdOld 1'0 all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM JoIIN SMITII, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State 5 of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Die-Heads, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to die-heads for screwcutting and the like, and has for its object to I0 improve and simplify the construction of such devices and provide for their adjustment and operation; and to these ends my invention con sists in a die-head embodying the various features of construction and arrangement of parts having the general mode of operation substantially as hereinafter more particularly pointed out.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein I have chosen to illustrate a die-head adapted to cut screws of one-eighth-inch diameter and wherein the drawings are practi cally three times the size of the actual tool for convenience of illustration, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the tool. Fig. 2 is a vertical lengitudinal section of the same, showing the parts in locked or operative position. Fig. 3 is a similar section of a portion of the tool, showing the parts in the normal or unlocked position ready to receive the material to be 3 operated upon, taken on the line 3, Fig. 7. Fig. A is a similar view, showing the position of the parts when the cutters are released from the die-head, on line t, Fig. 7 Fig.6

is a side view, and Fig. 6 an end View, of the side View of one of the cutters; and Figs. 16,

Y17, and 18 are end views showing the relative 45. positions of the cams when the cutters are in Working, normal, and, released position.

-. I One of, the principal objects of this inven- .tion .isto provide a small and compact tool of Fig.

the character described which shall be adapted to operate in the limited space which ex- 5 ists in turrets and similar supports of screweutting or other machines to which the device is applied.

Another object is to avoid the use of screws tohold the parts together, and more particularly to avoid the employn'ient of any attachment projecting beyond the circumferential periphery of the head-piece.

Another object of the invention is to so con struct and arrange the parts that the cutters may be adjusted inward and outward into operative positions by means contained within the normal circumference of the tool and, without any projections or extensions beyond the face of the tool or outside of the cutters. 5

Another object is to provide an improved construction and arrangemei it of cutters, which [it directly in the head-piece and are held securely therein while being adjustable.

Another object is to provide improved 7 means for adjusting the cutters in their locked or operative position and for automatically releasing them in their unlocked or normal position and, further,to permit such an adj ustment that the cams may be released from the cutters and the cutters replaced or adjusted in position. In connection with the adjustment of the cutters in their operative and normal positions means are provided for graduating the cut so that very exact and accurate 30 work can be accomplished and the adjustment made with little or no delay or trouble.

These and various other OlJj00l3S, which will be more apparent from the annexed description, are accomplished and carried out in the 8 5 embodiment which'will now be described, and it is to be understood that while I shall describe the exact details of construction illustrated in the drawings the invention is not limited thereto, as these details can be changed 9 and varied by those skilled in the art to accomplish substantially the same result without departing from the spirit of the invention, and some features of the invention may be used separately or in connection with other features or with other equivalent features.

' Referring to the drawings, A represents the cutter-carrying part, which may be termed a shell and which can have a limited longitudinal movement within the stock, composed of the sleeve-like shank E and its enlarged head E The shell A is made hollow from end to end, as clearly seen in Fig. 2, and in this way permits the use of the tool to make a screw-thread of any desired length, there being no internal devices or constructions within the body of the shell. Connected to and forming an integral part of this shell is a head-piece A, and this head-piece is adapted to carry the cutters B, which are mounted therein. In the present instance the head is adapted to hold and support three cutters B in the slots A but of course any number of cutters may be mounted in the head in a similar manner, accordingto the requirements of any particular case. These cutters consist of a body portion 6, adapted to fit the slots A and on one of the faces isa rib 6, adapted to fit a groove a in the side of the slots A and on one edge there is a cam-slot b and the cutting edge 6 is preferably reduced and of less thickness than the body t, although this will vary according to circumstances. and the corner of the body on its front edge is preferably cutaway, as at 6*, to make room for the chips and prevent them from interfering with the cutting operation. These cutters B, as will be readily seen, fit in the slots A and preferably their front edges project slightly beyond the front face of the head-piece A, and this further permits room for the chips and allows the tool to be used to cut a screw up close against an abutment, there being nothing projecting beyond or in front of the advance cutting edge of the cutters. WVith this arrangement it will'be seen that the cutters instead of being mounted on carriers, as is common, are mounted directly in the headpiece and are furnished with relatively broad bearing-faces therein, and being guided by the ribs 5 theyare held accurately in position and alinemcnt and at the same time can be freely moved in and out of operative position by the cams, as hereinafter described, engaging the cam-slots therein, and, further, by arranging the apparatus so that the cams are disengaged from the cam-slots they may be easily removed and replaced when occasion requires.

Loosely mounted on the shell, which is provided with enlarged bearing-surfaces A A", is the cam-piece (1. (Shown more in detail in Figs. 7 8, and 9.) This cam-piece is provided with a central inward extension C, supported on the bearing-surface A", and with an enlarged bearing C fitting the enlarged bearing-surface A* of the shell. On the front face of the cam-piece are arranged the cams 0 0 0, there being three in the present instance, corresponding with the number of cutters, and these cams project into agroove or recess a in the head-piece, and the cams engage the cam-slots .71 in the cutters and serve to move them into and out of operative position and to hold them in place. It will be seen'that thesecams are within the peripheral surface of the head-piece and are covered and protected thereby, so that danger of dust or dirt interfering with the operation of the cams is avoided. The opposite face of the cam-piece is recessed at C and is provided with a pin (1*, projecting into the recess, which serves as an abutment for a cam-spring G This face of the cam-piece is also provided with a pin C, the function of which will be seen hereinafter. The cam-piece is held in position on the shell by what 1 have termed a retaining-collar D, (shown in rear side view in Fig. 12,) and this collar is screw-threaded internally and is adapted to be mounted on the shell and connected thereto by the screw-threaded portion A and some suitable means is preferably provided for locking this retaining collar in place, and this may be accomplished in any of the usual ways or, as shown, by a pin (Z, Fig. 2, passing through an opening and engaging a reduced portion of the screw-threaded portion A, locking the parts together. This retaining-collar is provided on its forward side with a pin D which projects intothe recess C in the cam-piece and forms a stationary abutment for the cam-spring C. Projecting from the rear side of the retaining collar are some means for securing and holding the shank or sleeve E, and in the present instance I have shown two pins D D for this purpose. The sleeve E, which, with its enlarged head E constitutes the supporting-stock, as before stated, is recessed at E to receive a spring A, acting to keep the die-carrying shell A drawn back into the stock, Fig. 2, by bearing against an adjustable nut A fitting a screw-threaded portion A of the shell. The head E of the sleeve is recessed at E so as to permit it to fit over a reduced portion C of the cam-piece, and the head is further recessed at E to fit over the retaining-collar D, and this recessed portion is provided with openings E to receive the locking-pins D of the retaining-collar. The recessed portion E is also provided with segmental slots or openingsee, arranged substantially as shown in Fig. 11, and the latter, 0', serves to receive the pin C of the campiece and to limit the motions of the campiece in moving the cutters into and out of locked and normal positions. Loosely mounted on the head of the sleeve, as at E, is an adjusting-ring F, having a graduation f on its peripheral face, and projecting from its front side is a pin F, which normally passes through the opening 0 in the head E of the sleeve E and engages the hole 0 in the rear face of the cam-piece C. Also in the face of the ring is a recess f, corresponding in shape to the slot or opening a in the head E of the sleeve and into which the pin 0 of the camengages the hole 0' in the cam -piece it is evident that the position of the cam-piece can be adjusted so that the cutters may be thrown in and out from a definite point, andthen byj tightening the clamp-ring the parts aresecurely held together under normal conditions.

To more fully explain this, it may be said that the cams c are made of suflicient length and are so placed that they can throw the cutters in and out, starting from different points of adjustment, and the pin F being in fixed relation to the cam-piece and to the adjustingring they will both be adjusted with relation to the projecting head E of the sleeve, and

the sleeve is held in fixed relation to the shell nally on the shell and to rotate thereon when not prevented by the pins 1) of theretainingcollar. In Fig. 2 the parts are shown in what Thave termed the locked or screw-cutting position when the cam-piece C has been retated to force the cutters inward against the material to be screw-threaded, and it will be seen that all the parts are positively connected, so that a screw of any length may be out.

'In general practice of course the tool is mounted in a turret or other support, the sleeve E being the means by which it is mounted, and this turret or holder usually travels on a suitable bed, which is provided with some sort of a stop device to determine the length of the screw-thread to be cut.

The sleeve ward, its movements being controlled or limited by the pin C" passing through the slot or opening a in the head E of the sleeve and into the recess f" of the adjusting-ring. This of course moves the cams c in the proper direction to force the cotters B outward, releasing the screw-threaded piece, which. may then be withdrawn and a new piece inserted. When this is done, the cam-piece is turned to its locked position, forcing the cutters inward against the piece to be screwthreaded until the pin F comes opposite the hole 0, when the spring A" forces it into ongagement and the cams arelocked. This operation maybe facilitated by a suitable handle 0, attached to the cam-piece (l, or any other means of adjusting the cam-piece may be employed. So, too, the tool maybe used in any other way than that above indicated, and any otherme'ans may be utilized to cause the automatic release of the cutters at the time desired, it being only necessary to move the shell A in a longitudinal directionwith relation to the sleeve E far enough to release the pin F from the hole c', when the cam-piece" will be automatically operated by the camspring C" to open the cutters, and the parts will assume the posltions indicated in Fig. 3.

VVhen it is desired to remove the cutters B for any purpose, it is only necessary to further move the shell A longitudinally with relation to the sleeve E into the position indicated in Fig. 4:, wherein the pinC" is with drawn from the slot 1: in the head E and from the recess in the adjustin -ring F and the cam-piece then under-the further influence of the cam-spring C will fly around all the operating parts are protected froi'n dust and dirt and still are accessible for adjustment or replacing in case of accident. The die works automatically by a simple longitudinal movement of one part with relation to the other and by a further movement pro-.

rides for the removal and adjustment. of the cutters. It also provides for the adjustment of the relative positions or limits of movement of the cutters, so that 1 extremely-accurate work can be accomplished; and when it is desired to change the size or pitch of the screw belng cut the cutters arcqnicltly released and may be removed and replaced by others adapted to make the desired screwthread. These operations can be accomplished IIO - nally with relation thereto, and arranging the cam-piece between the heads the parts are made small and of the requisite strength and the operative parts are locked and released by devices within the heads.

Having thus described the general principles of my invention and pointed out the preferred way of embodying them, what I claim 1. The combination of a stock with a headpiece having slots, cutters fitting said slots, a rotary cam-piece in the rear of said cutters for moving the cutters in the slots, and means for locking the cam-piece, the head-piece being longitudinally movable with relation to the stock to release said locking means.

2. The combination of a stock with a headpiece provided with slots in its outer face, cutters fitting said slots and provided with camslots in their rear faces, the head-piece being recessed at the rear adjacent to said cam-slots, cams extending into said recessed portion and engaging the slots of the cutters, and means for locking the cams, the head-piece being longitudinally movable with relation to the stock to release said locking means.

3. A die-head comprising a stock, a shell movable longitudinally therein and having a head-piece provided with slots in its outer face, cutters fitting said slots and provided with cam-slots in their rear faces, the headpiece having a recess at the rear adjacent to said cam-slots, cams extending into said recessed portion and engaging the slots of the cutters, and means to lock the cutter-head with relation to the cams, the head-piece being movable longitudinally with relation to the stock to release said locking means.

4; A die-head comprising a stock, a shell movable longitudinally therein and having an integral head-piece provided with slots in its outer face, cutters movable in said slots and provided with cam-slots in their rear faces, the head-piece having a recess in its rear portion, in combination with a rotatable campiece having cams projecting into said recess and engaging the slots in the cutters, and means to lock the cutter-head with relation to the cams, the head-piece being movable longitudinally with relation to the stock to release said locking means.

5. In a die-head of the character described, means for normally holding the cutters in cutting position, means for releasing said holding means to allow the cutters to expand, and

pand when the shell is in another position with relation to the sleeve, and means which when released on a further movement of the shell allow the cutters to be withdrawn, substantially as described.

7. A die-head comprising a shell having a .said holding means to allow the cutters to exhead-piece provided with slots, cutters mounted in said slots, a cam-piece mounted on the shell, a sleeve also mounted on the shell, connections between the sleeve and shell permitting longitudinal movement with relation to each other, and means substantially as described whereby when the sleeve is moved a certain distance on the shell the cam-piece may be operated to adjust the cutters into working or normal position and further means whereby when the sleeve is moved farther the campiece releases the cutters, substantially as set forth.

8. A die-head comprising a shell having a head-piece provided with slots, cutters mounted in said slots, a cam-piece mounted on the shell having cams controlling the cutters, a sleeve mounted on the shell, connections between the sleeve and shell permitting longitudinal movement with relation to each other, connections between the cam-piece and the sleeve, and a spring controlling the cam-piece whereby when the sleeve is moved longitudinally with relation to the shell to release said connections the cam-piece is automatically operated to move the cutters out of working position, and further connections between the cam-piece and sleeve whereby on a further longitudinal movement of the sleeve with relation to the shell the cam-piece is automatically operated to release the cutters, substantially as described.

9. A die-head comprising a shell having a head-piece, cutters mounted therein, a campiece having cams controlling the movements of the cutters, means for retaining the campiece in position, a sleeve mounted on the shell, an adjusting-ring mounted on the sleeve, a clamp-ring therefor, and connections between the sleeve and cam-piece, substantially as described.

10. A die-head comprising two members one IIO ferent relative positions of the movable members, substantially asidescribed.

11. The combination of ahead-piece carrying radially-movable cutters and a support for said head-piece, a rotary cam-piece to move said cutters, means to lock the cam-piece and head-piece together when the cutters are moved to cutting" position and a rotarily-adjustable ring mounted on such support, and carrying" one of the locking elements. I 12. The combination of a stock, a head-piece supported thereby and carrying radially-movable cutters, a rotary cam-piece to move said cutters, means to lock the cam-piece and headpiece together when the cutters are moved. to cutting position, and a rotarily adjustable ring fixed on the stock and carrying one of the locking elements, the head-piece beh'ig movable longitudinally with relation to the stock to release said locking means.

13. The combinationof the stock and cutters with a rotary cam-piece to move the cutters to cutting position and means to lock the eutter-carrying part and the cam-piece together when the cutters are incutting' position, said locking means including" a rotarily-adjustable ring behind the cam-piece and carrying one of the looking elements.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name i to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM JOHN SMITH. Witnesses:

PHILIP F. LARNER, F. L. FREEMAN. 

